Barbour adds Medicaid to special session agenda

Barbour adds Medicaid to special session agenda

Barbour told lawmakers over the Memorial Day weekend that officials with Medicaid and the Mississippi Hospital Association have agreed on a plan to tax hospitals to fill a $90 million hole the health insurance program faces each year.

Details of the plan have not been made public. Barbour will meet with legislators this afternoon before the House and Senate reconvene.

He and lawmakers were unable to agree on a funding solution when the regular session ended last month. The House wanted to hike cigarette and liquor taxes to pay for Medicaid, while Barbour and key Senate leaders favored a hospital tax plan.

Clarion Ledger
5/27/8